Information

Cynthia Deis

Cythnia Deis is a Raleigh-based artist, writer and arts educator with experience in a variety of mediums. Her background as a production jewelry designer and retail store owner provides her with an artist’s understanding of business and entrepreneurial issues. Certified in REAL Entrepreneurship and REAL Craft courses, she also teaches and consults on pricing, studio layout, and email marketing with artists, craftspeople and small arts organizations. With her business and mentoring background, Cynthia is the Education Director of Triangle ArtWorks, where she works to develop and implement programming and events focused on artists and arts organizations as sustainable economic factors in their communities.

Hannah Cole

Hannah Cole is a tax expert who specializes in working with creative businesses and mission-driven solopreneurs. A long-time working artist herself, she’s helped tens of thousands of self-employed people skill up with accessible tax and money education, through her Money Bootcamp program, speaking engagements from Florida to Alaska, and on the Sunlight podcast. She is the founder of Sunlight Tax.

Anna Hedges

Anna Hedges is a portrait and commercial photographer from Hickory Tree, Tennessee. She currently resides in Johnson City and has the immense joy of sharing her days making pictures with clients across the country as a full-time freelancer. Along with her passion for photography, she delights in quilting, sailing, gardening and writing. And coffee with heavy whipping cream.

Anna Whitted

Anna Whitted is a local contemporary artist based in the Art Lab at the William King Museum of Art in Abingdon, VA. Holding a BFA in Kinetic Imaging from Virginia Commonwealth University, her professional art career began with experimental animation, video, sound, and extended tech media. Since graduating, her practice has primarily focused on painting and mixed media.

Rachel Gibson

Gibson works as a mixed media artist with work in galleries from New York to Los Angeles and collections around the world. A happily-married, mother of one, Gibson lives & works in Marion, Virginia in the southeast United States. Her practice currently explores tiny hand-stitched textiles as well as work that overlays watercolor with embroidery.

Erin Simons

Erin Simons of Laurel Ridge Studios is a craftswoman, historical interpreter, and educator from Southwest Virginia. Erin offers education through the historical interpretation of Traditional Appalachian Broom Making demonstration, as well as broom making classes. Erin recently joined the Friends of Southwest Virginia team to work as ‘Round the Mountains Artisan Engagement Specialist.

Jen Otey

Jen Otey opened her studio MOONbow ARTworks in 2002 while living in Alaska. In 2010, she moved back to Southwest Virginia, where she grew up. Jen is the founding Chair of the Board of Directors for Forge Appalachia, a community nonprofit that focuses on providing creative workshop opportunities in fine art and traditional Appalachian craft, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay. She also works in the realm of building creative economy in Southwest Virginia, through the arts, culture and heritage, and outdoor recreation, as the Outdoor Recreation Development Manager for Friends of Southwest Virginia. Jen has been making art for over 25 years. She is a painter and a potter. Her work depicts and celebrates the diverse native flora and fauna of the place where she lives.

You can also find Jen on Facebook and Instagram. Just look for MOONbow ARTworks by Jen Otey. Her work is available at the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center in Abingdon, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, John C. Campbell Folk School’s Craft Shop in Brasstown, North Carolina, and Olive’s Porch Gallery in Murphy, North Carolina.

Ellen Reynolds

Ellen opened Beagle Ridge in 2001 and has been specializing in Lavender for over 20 years. She is a recognized speaker at lavender and herb events up and down the East Coast, last year speaking at the New Zealand Lavender Conference. Beagle Ridge is a thriving Herb and Lavender Farm and agritourism destination in Wytheville VA. She has welcomed visitors from all 50 states and 29 foreign countries. Her passion for teaching other growers has created a thriving workshop series known as Lavender Academy. The academy teaches novice and expert growers how to grow Lavender and grow their lavender business. Since beginning the Lavender Academy in 2019, students from 32 states have come to take these weekend long workshops. Diversifying her business with other offerings, her husband retired early to help with the business. Although only open to the public 6 months out of the year, 5 years ago she hired a full time year round employee to help in the business. Creating a line of bath and body products on the farm, Beagle Ridge now manufacturers their diverse product line to 27 farms, spas and galleries across the country.